DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 13

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

BLAZE AT EASTBOURNE FIVE HOUSES BURNED Five houses, valued at well over £0000, were totally ■; destroyed by a fire which raged in Oroua street, Muritai, between 4.30 and 0.30 this morning. A small cottage occupying only half of the section it stands upon prevented destruction of nine other houses close together in the same street. ■The. fire started in N0.'69, Oroua street, and it is thought to have been caused by a defective chimney. The alarm was given, and the Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade was on the scene within twelve minutes. Lacking water facilities, however, they could do little to prevent the flames spreading to the adjacent houses, for a fairly strong northerly wind made matters difficult. A bucket-brigade was formed, but was ineffective. The attention of the brigadesmen was concentrated on saving No. 79, which is a low cottage standing well back from the road. Sheets of corrugated iron wero placed against its walls, and with as much water as was available by means of buckets, the cottage was saved. ■ The five houses, Nos. 69, 71, 73, 75, and 77, were totally destroyed. Very little of the furniture in the first house was saved, but many willing hands assisted in safely clearing the remaining four of most of their contents in time to escape the fire. : Great credit is due to the Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade, under the direction of Mr. J. Drummond, the captain. The brigade arrived promptly ! on the scene, and its work, especially in stopping the flre before it spread to the nine other houses in the road, was | invaluable. Mr. W. Orange, Eastbourne Borough foreman, also gave good assistance. ! No. 69 was owned and occupied by I Mr. N. Barker and was insured for | £1000. Mrs. F. A. Noilson, of Carterton, owned No. 71, but the house, j though furnished, was not occupied. ' Mr. J. Morris owned and occupied No. j 73, while- No. 75 belonged to Mr. T. Auton, and was routed to Mr. J. Pur- j cell. The insurances on these three houses and their contents are not j available' at present. Mr. J. C. Scaif c was the owner and occupier of No. 77, which was insured for £250. There was no insurance 'on the furniture. No. 67, on the north side of Barker's house, escaped with a bad scorching, thanks to the efforts of the brigade a_nd to the fact that the wind was a northerly. The damage to that house amounted to about £.120, but it is well covered by an insurance policy. Mr. O. Jose was the occupier of No. 79, which was slightly damaged by lire mid water. With tho exception of one or! the firemen who suffered slight burns* no oho was injured. ■ The.site of the fire is almost opposite the tennis courts, within a short distance of tho spot where the tearooms were burnt down some little time ago.